The Star-Nosed Mole | The Institute for Creation Research
The Star-Nosed Mole

The star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) is a fascinating semi-aquatic mammal found in eastern Canada and the United States. Moles (placental mammals) are classified—along with hedgehogs and shrews—in the Order Lipotyphla. They have no evolutionary history, and evolutionists can only speculate they evolved from unknown Cretaceous ancestors. Fossils of these animals are found in the Palaeocene and Cretaceous.

Not only are moles designed with an amazing sense of smelling in stereo1, but God has created them with special touch organs called Eimer's organs. These structures are very exceptional.

Eimer's organs are specially-designed sensory tissues found in many moles, especially the star-nosed mole. The tentacled snout of this animal has about 25,000 of them. Through the decades, zoologists have discovered that because of Eimer's organs, the star-nosed mole is able to eat very quickly, having an incredible ability to immediately discern what is edible or not. In fact, this rapid forager holds the record of being the fastest-eating mammal, able to identify and eat food in as little as 120 milliseconds.2 The mole is able to make these diet decisions in 8 milliseconds—the speed limit of neural conduction.

How do Eimer’s organs work? Twenty-first-century physiologists still do not understand exactly how these touch receptor types alter touch that are turned into the electrical signals that nerve fibers transmit to the brain. If and when they do, it will only reveal powerful electrochemical and mechanosensory design features that are a result of plan and purpose—not chance and time.

Research continues on the strangest snout in the animal kingdom that helps the hungry mole to rapidly survey pitch-black environments in its search for tiny prey. For about six months out of the year these semi-aquatic moles can forage in cold environments, including water. How do they not lose their touch sensitivity in such frigid conditions? In 2023, thermal biologists Tattersall and Campbell published their investigation regarding the effects of thermal energy on the rostrum (snout) of this creature.

given the exquisite sensory nature of the star [mobile, 22 nasal rays], we posited that the uninsulated rays may be kept warm when foraging to maintain high mechanosensory function. To test these hypotheses, we remotely monitored surface temperatures in wild-caught star-nosed moles. Although the tail acted as a thermal window exhibiting clear vasoconstriction/vasodilation, the star varied passively in surface temperature, with little evidence for thermoregulatory vasomotion.3

In other words, they found the rostrum did not require warmth for the animal to efficiently sense its food. They went on to say, “This thermoconforming response may have evolved to minimize conductive heat loss to the water or wet soils when foraging.”3 Creationists would state, “This thermoconforming response was designed to minimize conductive heat loss to the water or wet soils when foraging.”

The case for creation is clearly seen in this amazing underground animal that is designed with a unique size and shape and the most touch-sensitive structures (Eimer's organs) among the vertebrates and people.

References

  1. Thomas, B. Moles Can Smell in Stereo. Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org February 27, 2013, accessed February 29, 2023.
  2. Catania, K. and F. Remple. 2005. Asymptoic prey profitability drives star-nosed moles to the foraging speed limit. Nature. 433:7025, 519-522.
  3. Tattersall, G. and K. Campbell. 2023. Thermoconforming rays of the star-nosed mole. Journal of Experimental Biology. V 226, Issue 3.

* Dr. Sherwin is science news writer at the Institute for Creation Research. He earned an M.A. in zoology from the University of Northern Colorado and received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Pensacola Christian College.

The Latest
NEWS
''Bird-Like'' Tracks Before Birds
Scientists have found what appears to be fossil bird tracks in rocks claimed to be 60 million years older than the oldest bird fossils.1...

NEWS
December 2023 ICR Wallpaper
"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:21 NKJV ICR...

NEWS
Renowned Chemist on Origin-of-Life: Put Up Or Shut Up
For some time now, renowned and award-winning Rice University chemist and outspoken Christian Dr. James Tour has been exposing the fact that origin-of-life...

NEWS
Butterflies and Cancer Detection
It’s something right out of science fiction. The beautiful, flighty butterfly has been discovered to have cancer detection properties via the...

ACTS & FACTS
Kids Edition 2023: Good Stewards
Hi, kids! We created a special Acts & Facts just for you! Have fun doing the activities while learning about the wonderful world God...

ACTS & FACTS
Kids Edition 2023: Rainbows
Hi, kids! We created a special Acts & Facts just for you! Have fun doing the activities while learning about the wonderful world God...

ACTS & FACTS
Kids Edition 2023: Gemstones & Jewels
Hi, kids! We created a special Acts & Facts just for you! Have fun doing the activities while learning about the wonderful world God...

ACTS & FACTS
Kids Edition 2023: Black Holes
Hi, kids! We created a special Acts & Facts just for you! Have fun doing the activities while learning about the wonderful world God...

ACTS & FACTS
Kids Edition 2023: Ice Age
Hi, kids! We created a special Acts & Facts just for you! Have fun doing the activities while learning about the wonderful world God...

ACTS & FACTS
Kids Edition 2023: Dinosaurs & Birds
Hi, kids! We created a special Acts & Facts just for you! Have fun doing the activities while learning about the wonderful world God...